News of Brandon 1.27.08
Hello Everyone,
We've had a few visits with Brandon at Centinela State Prison in Imperial, CA. The first time we drove down was on Christmas Eve. The prison has to process his paperwork (it's called being "classified") before he's allowed a contact visit. We went to visit on Christmas Day and since he was not yet classified, we were only allowed to see him for a half hour through the glass. Visiting that way is tough because you have to talk by phone and only the person holding the phone receiver can hear him.
We drove down again the first and second weekends of January. It takes almost 4 hours one way so we stay overnight. The drive is all freeways and not bad. El Centro (about 10 miles from the prison) has a number of hotels that are reasonably priced. The first weekend was a visit through the glass again for an hour each day. The second weekend we finally had contact visits. (Yeah!) For those who have visited him at the other prisons, this area is run well. Processing is quick and organized. The visiting room is very clean. The chairs have some padding (5 hours on the plastic ones can take a toll on your back), and there is a patio so you can get some fresh air and sit at the concrete picnic tables (okay - it's surrounded by walls and barbed wire but still, a chance to go outside!). We hear temperatures can get up to 115 degrees in the summer so that will make it interesting.
How is Brandon?
He's doing okay.
His first cellmate was 79 years old. A decent guy though they didn't have much in common. His current cellie shares his interest in art and that's a plus. Brandon misses painting. He is trying to work with colored pencils but his ideas come out faster than he can express them by drawing and that's frustrating. We still hope that a hobby program can get started there.
He misses seasons. Tehachapi had snow and rain. Imperial has sun, wind, and dust - lots of it.
Brandon is allowed to call more often, has a job that doesn't cancel out any visiting times, and the TV gets more channels and movies. Visiting is open on Friday as well as Saturday and Sunday. All good. He receives mail quickly and the cards you sent at Christmas have been forwarded to him.
Thanks to all of you who have asked for his new address. He just switched to a new cell number on the same yard. Mail will still reach him at the previous address. He can give you the new cell number when he replies or you can write to freebh@brandonhein.com again and request it.
If you would be willing to accept a collect call from Brandon please let him know. Include your phone number in your letter and let him know the best times to reach you. This is important because the times he's allowed to call vary from day to day and the he's only allowed a limited number of minutes. The calls can be made to land lines only so if yours is a cell phone, this is not an option.
Thanks to all for your continued support.
Warmest regards,
Gene and Janice Hein
Status of the Appeal
There's been a minor change to the filing date. It is now February 22, 2008.
We've had a few visits with Brandon at Centinela State Prison in Imperial, CA. The first time we drove down was on Christmas Eve. The prison has to process his paperwork (it's called being "classified") before he's allowed a contact visit. We went to visit on Christmas Day and since he was not yet classified, we were only allowed to see him for a half hour through the glass. Visiting that way is tough because you have to talk by phone and only the person holding the phone receiver can hear him.
We drove down again the first and second weekends of January. It takes almost 4 hours one way so we stay overnight. The drive is all freeways and not bad. El Centro (about 10 miles from the prison) has a number of hotels that are reasonably priced. The first weekend was a visit through the glass again for an hour each day. The second weekend we finally had contact visits. (Yeah!) For those who have visited him at the other prisons, this area is run well. Processing is quick and organized. The visiting room is very clean. The chairs have some padding (5 hours on the plastic ones can take a toll on your back), and there is a patio so you can get some fresh air and sit at the concrete picnic tables (okay - it's surrounded by walls and barbed wire but still, a chance to go outside!). We hear temperatures can get up to 115 degrees in the summer so that will make it interesting.
How is Brandon?
He's doing okay.
His first cellmate was 79 years old. A decent guy though they didn't have much in common. His current cellie shares his interest in art and that's a plus. Brandon misses painting. He is trying to work with colored pencils but his ideas come out faster than he can express them by drawing and that's frustrating. We still hope that a hobby program can get started there.
He misses seasons. Tehachapi had snow and rain. Imperial has sun, wind, and dust - lots of it.
Brandon is allowed to call more often, has a job that doesn't cancel out any visiting times, and the TV gets more channels and movies. Visiting is open on Friday as well as Saturday and Sunday. All good. He receives mail quickly and the cards you sent at Christmas have been forwarded to him.
Thanks to all of you who have asked for his new address. He just switched to a new cell number on the same yard. Mail will still reach him at the previous address. He can give you the new cell number when he replies or you can write to freebh@brandonhein.com again and request it.
If you would be willing to accept a collect call from Brandon please let him know. Include your phone number in your letter and let him know the best times to reach you. This is important because the times he's allowed to call vary from day to day and the he's only allowed a limited number of minutes. The calls can be made to land lines only so if yours is a cell phone, this is not an option.
Thanks to all for your continued support.
Warmest regards,
Gene and Janice Hein
Status of the Appeal
There's been a minor change to the filing date. It is now February 22, 2008.
posted by Gene and Janice Hein at 9:03 AM
1 Comments:
Mr. and Mrs. Hein,
It is with deep sorrow that I write this message. I know you read these types of comments all the time, but I hope you will permit me the selfish indulgence to express what you already know.
Brandon should no longer be imprisoned. While the events he took part in are tragic, common sense needs to prevail. He has served punishment for his attendance of this crime, but he need not be punished for its commission.
I have seen the artistic talent Brandon possesses and now even that growth is being stifled. When will this injustice stop? I am confident that upon Brandon’s release, he will never again place himself in a position where a crime is being committed. Is that not the crime he is guilty of? And, has he not been rehabilitated to the extent that he will never again place himself in attendance of criminal acts? Where is the common sense? I am outraged that the system can let murderers walk while tag-a-longs lose their life.
Please let Brandon know that his art is inside. The system cannot take that which is in his heart away. His talent is bound only by his soul and his soul is free. I will be watching for his colored pencil drawings on “The Box.” Please encourage him to continue producing works.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to write. Please stay strong and know that from time to time I will be looking in on the site and blog. You will always have my support.
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